Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, ethnicity and health.

The population passed 280,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Newcastle upon Tyne increased by 8.0%, from almost 260,000 to 280,000.

The addition of almost 21,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the North East and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Newcastle upon Tyne was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the North East's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Newcastle upon Tyne

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Newcastle upon Tyne decreased by three years, from 36 to 33 years.

This city had the lowest average age in the North East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 16,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 21% of people in Newcastle upon Tyne are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Newcastle upon Tyne by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just under one in two (47%) people aged 16 and over in Newcastle upon Tyne said they were single, compared with 38% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 42% to 36%.

The largest increase occurred in Lincoln (from 34% to 44%).

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

Newcastle upon Tyne saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 1.6% to 2.8%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newcastle upon Tyne said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 10% to 7.6%.

The largest increase occurred in Newham (from 2.3% to 5.9%).

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newcastle upon Tyne increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newcastle upon Tyne, the North East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 9 in 10 (91%) in Newcastle upon Tyne reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 90% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 3.8% to 3.8%.

The largest increase occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 90% to 91%) followed by Tower Hamlets (from 91% to 92%).

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

More students

Newcastle upon Tyne saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of students.

During this period, Newcastle upon Tyne overtook 18 local authority areas, including Welwyn Hatfield and Winchester, to become the English local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of students.

In 2011, just over 1 in 15 (6.8%) people aged 16 to 74 in Newcastle upon Tyne said they were in education, compared with 3.8% in 2001. The percentage that were employed increased from 45% to 45%.

The largest increase occurred in Newham (from 4.3% to 8.4%) followed by Lincoln (from 3.7% to 7.0%).

The percentage of students in Newcastle upon Tyne increased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Newcastle upon Tyne, the North East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

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